Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Knitting a Way Through Grief

Three friends died this year.

The most difficult loss to accept was the passing in October of the husband of one of my good friends. He also happened to have been my boss. We worked together at different times for many companies for over twenty years. For the last eight years I worked for him at his company. He was always my go-to guy for answers to professional questions. He and his wife provided emotional support for me years ago when I went through divorce. His absence leaves a big hole in many lives.

It's amazing how grief can fill your days like water fills a sponge. You just passively soak it all in until there is room for nothing else.

That's why I haven't been writing for the past three weeks, and I took a break from my scheduled listing of items in my Etsy store. Grief barely allowed me to attend my day job and then come home and work with my hands in silence at night.

Of all the handwork I do, knitting is the technique that I find brings the most solace. There is something soothing about the regular rhythm of the needles and the repetitive motion of the hands.

So I've been knitting my way through grief.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Beads, Bracelets, and the Summer Olympics

While watching the exciting swimming events of Michael Phelps, the women's beach volleyball events of Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh, men's volleyball events starring Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers, the women's gymnastics events, various races and diving events, I found time to work on a variety of projects during the Summer Olympics this year.

There were these luscious berry-colored beads


that wanted to become bead-crocheted bangle bracelets.



There was also the dancing donut-head doll that has this past weekend grown to this:


Added to the mix were a couple mini-bags for my Etsy store.

And there were two pesky swatches that got returned in my evaluation of Level 1 of the master knitter's program from TGKA. I'll write about my frustration with them later.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

More from OFFF!

There were so many high points at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival! Photographing the animals was totally fun. The sheep are so friendly. I think the two things they like best are eating and getting their picture taken.

I met a nice couple from Shaggy Bear Farms who showed these lovely Navajo Churro sheep

and these sporty Jacobs.


I bought some roving from them for my first spinning attempt.


(It's fun to fantasize about having the time to start spinning lessons.) Ha!

Also, the stash got more Socks That Rock in a variety of weights from Blue Moon Fiber Arts.
I have some fun design ideas for this stuff that has nothing to do with feet!

In addition to meeting lots of friendly livestock at the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival, I was greeted as well by plenty of inanimate sheep.

There was this pair of singing sheep,


these gently grazing ones,

and this dancing little lamb that begged to come along home with me.


Samba was only mildly interested in her at first but later she brought out one of her play mice for a welcoming gift,

and then hid under the settee to observe what little lamb would do with it.